THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 28, 1996 TAG: 9604250289
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 21 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: TIGHT LINES
SOURCE: DAMON TATEM
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
Pier fishing along the southern portion of the Dare coast has been excellent recently.
Frisco pier fishermen have caught lots of nice sea mullet, toadfish, keeper spot, flounder, gray trout and croaker. Some 5- to 7-pound puppy drum were landed from the pier April 21. Water temperatures in the area have been in the high 60s.
Toadfish, sea mullet, croaker and spot have been plentiful on Avon Pier. Some 14- to 16-inch gray trout and a few flounder also have been taken. The water temperature at Avon pier was 68 degrees April 23.
The water temperature at Rodanthe pier has been a little cooler than temperatures reported by piers from the southern end of the island.
Fishing has been a little slower on the pier than elsewhere on the island, but has improved as the water temperature has approached the 60-degree mark. Scattered sea mullet, toadfish, small croaker and skates have been landed. A few keeper gray trout were taken by pier anglers April 23.
Along the northern beaches, Outer Banks pier has reported scattered skates, sea mullet and toadfish.
Toadfish, skates, a few sea mullet and some small croaker have been landed from Nags Head pier. Some keeper gray trout were caught on double bucktail rigs April 23.
Avalon pier fishermen also have caught small bottom fish, along with lots of skates. Quite a few 14- to 16-inch striped bass were hooked and released by pier fishermen April 22. Fair numbers of 12- to 13-inch gray trout were taken from the pier April 23.
A few sea mullet and croaker have been landed on Kitty Hawk pier. Small striped bass were caught and released April 20. Some gray trout were taken on bucktails during the afternoon of April 21.
Haul seine catches of gray trout, striped bass and butterfish have been good recently along the northern beaches, indicating plenty of fish in the area. Warming waters in the coming week should improve surf and pier fishing in the area.
Surf fishing on Hatteras Island has been good.
Sea mullet, croaker, toadfish and small bluefish have been taken along the beach in the Frisco area. Some gray trout and small bluefish have been taken along the beach in the Frisco area. Some gray trout and puppy drum have been beached in the area from ramp 55 to False Point. Several big drum have been landed at night around Hatteras Inlet.
A good run of big drum developed at Cape Point overnight April 19 and again April 22. A few large drum have been beached every night during the past week at Cape Point. Anglers fishing from small boats near shoals off Cape Point also have done well. Joe Lassiter and John Hooper fought and released 10 big drum in the white water April 19.
Good catches of sea mullet and flounder have been reported along the beach south of Cape Point daily. Morning runs of tailor bluefish have been common at Cape Point.
Anglers fishing along the beach from Buxton to Rodanthe have landed sea mullet weighing from 3/4 to 1 pound, toadfish, croaker and a few bluefish. Most of the bottom fish have been caught on bloodworms and shrimp.
Surf fishing from Oregon Inlet to Corolla has been slow because of chilly inshore water temperatures. Only scattered small bottom fish, skates and a few bluefish have been taken.
Fishing should improve along the northern beaches once water temperatures increase. by CNB